Machine for setting up cartons



May 28, 1968 F. T. WATERHOUSE MACHINE FOR SETTING UP CARTONS 7 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 27, 1965 INVENTOR FREDERICK T. WATERHOUSE BY 6%. (,0. mCKS N QNK ATTORNEY y 1968 F. T. WATERHOUSE 3,385,177

MACHINE FOR SETTING UP CARTONS Filed Aug. 27, 1965 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR FREDERICK T. WATERHOUSE BY Erik Fro 0K5 ATTORNEY y 1968 F. T. WATERHOUSE 3,385,177

MACHINE FOR SETTING UP CARTONS Filed Aug. 27, 1965 7 SheetsSheet 3 INVENTbR FREDERICK T. WATERHOUSE FIG: 3

BY @RL (0- P1330168 ATTORNEY May 28, 1968 Filed Aug. 27, 1965 F. T. WATERHOUSE 3,385,177

MACHINE FOR SETTING UP CARTONS 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 HVVENTOR FREDERICK T. WATERHOUSE ATTORNEY May 28, 1968 F. 'r. WATERHOUSE MACHINE FOR SETTING UP CARTONS '7 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Aug. 27, 1965 FREDERICK T. WATERHOUSE QO- P130145 ATTORNEY y 1968 F. T. WATERHOUSE 3,385,177

MACHINE FOR SETTING UP CARTONS Filed Aug. 27, 1965 v 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 FIG 7 INVENTOR FREDERICK T. WATERHOUSE BY Ema C0. Fib czs,

M ATTOFNEY MACHINE FOR SETTING UP CARTONS Filed Aug. 2'7, 1965 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 FIG .9

INVENTOR FREDERICK T. WATERHOUSE ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,385,177 MACHINE FOR SETTING UP CARTONS Frederick T. Waterhouse, Wilbraham, Mass, assignor to Diamond International Corporation, New York, N.Y., a corporation of Delaware Filed Aug. 27, 1965, Ser. No. 483,033 8 Claims. (CI. 93-49) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A machine for setting up collapsed display cartons having a hollow wall around the periphery of the formed carton, with pivotally attached walls raised in a predetermined order by means of a reciprocating carriage having particularly shaped cam follower tracks with three cam followers in those tracks, each connected to and controlling the movement of a reciprocating block and an idler wheel element connected to one of said blocks.

This invention relates to a machine for setting up cartons either before or after the merchandise has been introduced into said carton. More particularly the machine herein disclosed is designed for use with cartons in the form of hollow or tubular walled trays, such as the type of tray which is capable of being folded to a flat collapsed condition for storage and shipment purposes, and which may readily be set up with this machine at the time a package is to be produced, with the tray particularly adaptable for the purpose of being set up and forming a frame about an item to be packaged.

An object of the present invention is to provide a machine that can automatically set up a type of pull frame carton or related packaging and which may have a means of frame locking or adhesion incorported in the carton when so desired.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a machine with a simple open working surface in a light weight portable unit.

Still further objects and advantages of the invention and the manner in which it is carried into practice are made apparent in the following specification by reference to the accompanying drawings in which the invention is disclosed in detail.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of the overall machine with the top cover removed;

FIG. 2 is a partial perspective view of the mechanical movement with part of the setting up frame section removed;

FIG. 3 is a partial top plan view with the top cover removed and with the machine of the present invention in its position of having formed the carton;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged partial plan view of the machine with the frame section removed;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged partial plan view of the same part of the machine as shown in FIG. 4 with the mechanism moved to a different position;

FIG. 6 is a partially sectioned elevation view of the machine taken along line 66 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a partially sectioned elevation view taken along line 77 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 is a partially sectioned elevation view taken along line 88 of FIG. 4; and

FIG. 9 is a partially sectioned elevation view taken along line 99 of FIG. 5;

In FIG. 1 of the drawings, there is illustrated an overall plan view of the case enclosed machine with the cover, which closes off the operating mechanism of the machine from view, removed. The carton forming or frame section 10 comprises a frame base 11 with longitudinal par- 3,385,177 Patented May 28, 1968 allel frame walls 12 and 13 hingedly attached to frame base 11 by hinges 14 and 15, respectively. Extending in lines perpendicular to walls 12 and 13 are transverse parallel frame walls 16 and 17 hingedly attached to opposite ends of frame base 11 by means of hinges 18 and 19, respectively. On the frame walls 12, 13, 16 and 17 are found raised strips 22, 23, 26 and 27, respectively, extending the length of the walls and having beveled edges at opposite ends of each of said strips. Frame walls 12, 13, 16 and 17 are raised and lowered on their respective hinges 14, 15, 18 and 19.

The controls for the operation of the frame walls are located on control panel 30 which has a power toggle switch 31 which lights power indicator light 32 when the toggle switch 31 is in the on position. Adjacent to toggle switch 31 is a second toggle switch 33 which lights the bell indicator light 34 when switch 33 is in the on position. The circuitry connected to this switch 33 and light 34 is used to ring a bell (not shown) at the end of a cycle of operation of the machine. This cycle of operation is started by start button 35 also on control panel 30 having an operating indicator light 36 adjacent thereto, which light is lit during the actual operating time of the machine. Also mounted on control panel 30 is a switch contact 29 electrically connected to the bell, and a brake mechanism to be described later.

A plug 37 extending outside of the case enclosing the machine of the present invention is used for connection to a power source. The electrical power brought in through plug 37 passes to transformer 38 and relay and connection box 39 to electric driving motor 40, and also to control panel 30 and a solenoid 46. The machine is usually made for connection to a convenient power source with the transformer changing the voltage to fit an electric bell contained within the machine. The output shaft 41 of electric driving motor 40 has a bevel gear 42, part of a bevel gear set, mounted thereon. Mounted on a shaft 44 having its axis in a line perpendicular with a line through the axis of shaft 41 is bevel gear 43 of the same bevel gear set, mounted in operative contact with bevel gear 42.

One end of shaft 44 upon which bevel gear 43 is mounted extends into reducing gear box 53. The other end of shaft 44 extending in the opposite direction from bevel gear 43 is connected into brake system 45 which is operated by solenoid 46 acting on armature 47 attached to plate 48 having a separating member 49 welded thereto. Plate 48 causes separating member 49 to pull away from brake system 45 against the pressure of spring 51 when plate 48 is swung on pivot point 50, through the pull exerted on armature 47 by solenoid 46.

The gearing in reducing gear box 53 operated by the end of shaft 44 turns shaft 54 at the output of the reducing gear box 53, thereby turning crank wheel 55 on which is mounted bolt 56 having a head 57 so placed as to activate switch contact 29 once during each turn of crank wheel 55. Connecting rod 58 attached to crank wheel 55 by bolt 56 operates the carton forming mechanism shown in the perspective view of FIG. 2 and in various views of FIGS. 3-9 inclusive.

As shown in the figures, connecting rod 58 connects at pivot joint 59 with a cam track slide or sliding carriage 60. Through the motion of crank wheel 55 and connecting arm 58, carriage 60 may be reciprocated on L beams 61 and 62 by moving along grooves 63 and 64 located on the L beams 61 and 62, respectively.

Mounted over carriage 60 and on the top surfaces of L beams 61 and 62 in a position transverse to the L beams are L bars 5 and 66. In a position parallel to both L bars 65 and 66 is T bar 67 located transverse to L beams 61 and 62 and between L bars 65 and 66. L bar 65 has a downwardly facing groove 68 and L bar 66 has a downwardly facing groove 70. On opposite sides of T bar 67 are downwardly facing grooves 69 and 69'.

Sliding carriage 60 has cam follower tracks 71 and 72 located within its framework. At the far end of sliding carriage 60, away from the pivot joint connection 59, the cam follower tracks are parallel to each other and immediately adjacent. Moving toward the opposite end of carriage 60 these cam follower tracks then diverge from each other in a substantially Y form until their outer edges are substantially coincident with the outer edges of carriage 60 and then tracks 71 and 72 again become parallel to each other for most of the remaining length of carriage 60. Cylindrical cam followers 73 and 74 ride in cam follower tracks 71 and 72 respectively during the reciprocating motion of sliding carriage 60. These cylindrical cam followers 73 and 74 are mounted on the bottom of reciprocating blocks '75 and 76, respectively. At a pivot joint 77 on reciprocating block 75 there is attached an arm 79 having its opposite end attached to pivot joint 81 connected between a pair of ears 83 mounted on longi- I tudinal frame well 12. In a similar manner block 76 has pivot joint 78 thereon to which is attached arm 80 having a pivot joint 82 on its opposite end which is connected between a pair of cars 84 mounted on the opposite longitudinal frame wall 13.

Another cylindrical cam follower 85 is mounted below a block 86 and also moves in cam follower track 71. Attached to the upper surface of block 86 at pivot point 88 there is connected a flat connecting arm 87 having its opposite end connected at pivot point 89 to a two position idler wheel 90. Wheel 90 turns about center point 91 and has attached thereto at substantially opposing sides a short extension arm 92 connected at pivot joint attachment 94 and a long extension arm 93 connected at pivot joint attachment 95. Short extension arm 92 has a pivot joint attachment 96 at its outer end connected to a pair of ears 98 mounted on transverse parallel frame wall 16. In an equivalent manner long extension arm 93 has a pivot joint attachment 97 on its outer end extending in an opposite direction from idler wheel 90 and away from extension arm 92, and is connected at this pivot joint attachment 97 to a pair of cars 99 mounted on the opposite transverse parallel frame wall 17.

OPERATION The operation of the machine of the present invention is depicted in FIGS. 1-9 and takes place as follows. For the commencement of the operation of the machine, plug 37 is connected to a source of electrical power. Toggle switch 31 is moved to the on position, thereby causing indicator light 32 to light up. Toggle switch 33 is also moved to the on position, causing indicator light 34 to light up if it is desired to have a bell ring when the machine has completed the operation of forming a single carton.

A carton in collapsed form is placed on frame base 11 preferably in a face up position. A type of carton or tray which may be used with the machine of the present invention may be found in the patent of Thomas L. Davidson, Patent No. 3,227,355, issued Jan. 4, 1966 and entitled Hollow Wall Display Tray. Other cartons of somewhat similar structure may also be used with this machine but such cartons should have sufiicient rigidity to maintain their shape for framing an item to be packaged, and be of a size larger than the base 11 but extending within the confines of raised strips 22, 23, 26 and 27. The material to be placed in the carton may be placed in it at this point in the operation, or after the carton has been set up. Start button 35 is then pressed causing indicator light 36 to light up during the operation of the machine.

Electrical power from the supply source through plug 37 will pass through transformer 38 and be dropped to the voltage required by an electric bell. With the pressing of the start button 35 connection is made through relay and connection box 39 of the electrical source to electrical driving motor 40, causing motor 40 to revolve, and to solenoid 46 releasing brake thereby revolving shaft 41 and bevel gear 42.

During this operation, after the pressing of the start button 35, brake system 45 is in a state so as to allow the revolving of shaft 44, due to the revolving of bevel gear 43 in contact with the revolving bevel gear 42. Any electrically controlled braking system may be used at this point but the system shown operates to allow shaft 44 to revolve by the insertion of a separating member 49 between brake parts (not shown) surrounding one end of shaft 44.

Shaft 44 operates into reducing gear box 53 and through a gear assembly therein moves to revolve shaft 54 at a slower rate than the speed of rotation of shaft 44 thereby turning crank wheel 55 at this slower speed. Bolt 56 attached to crank wheel 55 and to connecting rod 58 has a head 57 thereon which protrudes sufiiciently to operate switch contact 29 mounted on control panel 30. One section of a double pole-double throw switch connected to switch contact 29 is connected to ring a hell (not shown) and the other section of the double poledouble throw switch is connected to the relay in box 39. Contact with switch contact 29 by bolt head 57 opens the contact to the relay in the box 39, allowing de-activation of brake solenoid 46. Upon such de-activation, solenoid 46 allows armature 47 to move toward it causing plate 48 to swing on pivot point with the force of spring 51 and thereby remove separating member 49 from between clamping portions in brake assembly system 45, causing these clamping parts to close around the end of shaft 44 and stop its rotation, while at the same time the same relay contact within relay and connecting box 39 removes electric power from electric driving motor 40. Without such a braking system, or its equivalent, time would be lost in the forming of the cartons waiting for the machine to stop after each carton has been formed.

After start button 35 is pressed, crank wheel completes one revolution before being stopped by brake system 45. During this one revolution connecting rod 58 has completed one complete reciprocal motion and at the same time, by its connection to carriage 60 at pivot joint 59, it has caused sliding carriage 60 to move along grooves 63 and 64 on L beams 61 and 62, respectively, first in one direction away from wheel crank 55 and then in a reverse direction back to its original position.

As sliding carriage 60 starts its movement in a direction away from crank wheel 55, cylindrical cam followers 73, 74 and 85 are all located in cam follower tracks 71 or 72 at the portion of those tracks where they are parallel and immediately adjacent to each other, as shown in FIG. 4, and the associated mechanism is positioned as in FIGS. 6 and 8.

As sliding carriage 60 continues its movement in a direction away from wheel 55, cylindrical cam followers 73 and 74 are guided in cam follower tracks 71 and 72, respectively, by the movement of those follower tracks with carriage 60, into the diverging portions of the tracks and in that manner are moved outwardly away from each other. As shown in FIG. 4, these cam followers 73 and 74 are just at the point of entering the diverging portions of cam follower tracks 71 and 72, respectively. This outward movement of the cam followers 73 and 74 causes an equivalent outward movement of reciprocating blocks 75 and 76 which are attached to followers 73 and 74, respectively. Blocks 75 and 76 are supported by L bars 61 and 62, respectively, so that they ride between L bar and T bar 67 in grooves 68 and 69 therein.

The outward movement of blocks and 76 causes an outward movement of arms 79 and 80 attached to these blocks at pivot joints 77 and 78, respectively. During the outward movement of arms 79 and 80, they are also caused to rotate due to their attachment to ears 83 and 84, respectively, at pivot joints 81 and 82, respectively, since each pair of ears is mounted on an opposite one of longitudinal frame walls 12 and 13. Since each of these longitudinal frame walls 12 and 13 are hinged by hinges 14 and 15, respectively, to frame base 11 which remains stationary, it must follow that frame walls 12 and 13 rotate about their respective hinges and are raised into a vertical position as shown in FIG. 7.

Following cylindrical cam follower 73 during this operation of the machine into the diverging portion of cam follower track 71 is cylindrical cam follower 85. Block 86 is mounted above cylindrical cam follower 85 and attached thereto to move with follower 85. As follower 85 is moved in an outward direction transverse to the motion of carriage 60, block 86, attached thereto, is also caused to move outwardly in the tracks formed by grooves 69' and 70 in T bar 67 and L bar 66, respectively. The outward reciprocating movement of block 86 causes an equal reciprocating motion on the part of fiat connecting arm 87 which moves idler wheel 90 from the position shown in FIG. 4 to that of FIG. 5, causing a clockwise rotating motion of the wheel 90. This clockwise motion moves extension arms 92 and 93 in an outward direction. The difference in length of these extension arms is necessitated by the position of idler wheel 90 in relation to the transverse frame walls 16 and 17 which are moved thereby. The outward movement of extension arms 92 and 93 causes a rotating movement of ears 98' and 99, respectively, attached to these extension arms at pivot joint attachments 96 and 97, respectively. This movement causes a raising of transverse frame walls 16 and 17, respectively, attached to stationary frame base 11by hinges 18 and 19, respectively, as shown in FIG. 9.

It will be noted that due to the construction of this machine, longitudinal frame walls 12 and 13 are raised before transverse frame walls 16 and 17 because of the action whereby cam followers 73 and 74 enter the diverging portion of carriage 60 before cam follower 85 entersthat diverging portion.

With all of the frame walls in the vertical position as shown in FIG. 3 and FIGS. 7 and 9, the carton has been formed. At this point the carriage 60 has reached its farthest point of reciprocation and is in a position farthest away from crank wheel 55. The wheel 55 continues turning for a spaced interval even though it has already contacted switch contact 29 through bolt head 57. The remaining interval of its rotation is determined by the time delay until solenoid 46 is activated and allows braking system 45 to clamp shaft 44 and stop the rotation thereof, but this interval of time is so arranged as to allow further turn of crank wheel 55 to return carriage 60 to its original starting point at the end of L bars 61 and 62 closest to crank wheel 55. By this motion of carriage 60, cylindrical cam followers converge in the sloping portions of cam follower tracks 71 and 72 until all of the cam followers, first cam follower 85, followed by cam followers 73 and 74, are again located in the immediately adjacent portions. of cam follower tracks 71 and 72 as shown in FIG. 4.

By this movement of the carriage 60 and the movement of cylindrical cam follower 85 toward the longitudinal center axis of carriage 60, block 86 is moved inward causing idler wheel 90 through its attachment to flat connecting arm 87 to rotate in a counterclockwise direction and return to its position shown in FIG. 4. This movement of idler wheel 90 pulls in extension arms 92 and 93 toward it and by the connection of these extension arms to ears 98 and 99 causes transverse frame walls 16 and 17 to swing outward on their hinges 18 and 19 and return to the horizontal position shown in FIG. 6.

With the converging motion of cam followers 73 and 74, reciprocating blocks 75 and 76 respectively are drawn inward, and through their connections to ears 83 and 84 through arms 79 and 80, the longitudinal frame walls 12 and 13 are pulled outward rotating on their hinges 14 and 15, respectively, and thereby returning to the horizontal position illustrated in FIG. 6.

The carton may then be removed from the machine and the machine is now in position ready to receive the next carton in collapsed form, which may be formed upon the pressing of the start button again.

The machine illustrated in the figures is merely one basic embodiment and may have additional attachments incorporated therein, such as a carton loading attachment with a separate or an integral ejection attachment so that loading and unloading of the machine may be performed automatically. The machine is illustrated in a normal position of operation but can also be operated with all parts in the same relative position to each other by placing the machine at an angle or on its side, in any position which retains the parts in their same relative position in relation to the frame base and walls.

Although the embodiment illustrated is powered by electricity, it is within the spirit of the invention to incorporate power by fluid through a hydraulic or pneumatic system, or by hand operation, or by any combination of electrical, hydraulic, pneumatic and hand operation means.

The machine illustrated incorporates the advantages of automation, thereby reducing product cost and allowing the use of a minimum skill for operation in a unit that may be of substantially light weight and portable.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention and therefore the invention is not limited to what is shown in the drawings and described in the specification but only as indicated in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A machine for setting up collapsed hollow-walled display cartons with a hollow wall around the periphery of the formed carton and other cartons of relatively stiff material requiring erection of their sides comprising a stationary frame base,

a first pair of frame walls and a second pair of frame walls, each hingedly attached to said base,

and operating means below and attached to said frame walls to move said walls from a substantially horizontal to vertical position and return them to the substantially horizontal position,

said operating means including a driven carriage mounted for reciprocating motion and having a pair of cam follower tracks with each of said tracks having a first portion adjacent and parallel to the first portion of the other of said tracks, a second portion connected to said first portion, and a third portion connected to said second portion with said third portion parallel to the third portion of the other of said tracks but further spaced from its corresponding third portion than the spacing between corresponding first portions of each of said cam follower tracks,

first, second, and third cam followers located in said pair of cam follower tracks with said first and second cam followers located in different ones of said pair of cam follower tracks along a single transverse line across said carriage and said third cam follower located in one of said cam follower tracks,

first attaching means connecting said first cam follower to one of said first pair of frame walls,

second attaching means connecting said second cam follower to the other of said first pair of frame walls, and third attaching means connecting said third cam follower to said second pair of frame walls.

2. The machine of claim 1, further characterized by said operating means including a connecting arm pivotally connected to said carriage,

and a crank wheel pivotally connected to the opposite end of said connecting arm from the connection to said carriage.

3. The machine of claim 1, further characterized by said first attaching means and said second attaching means each including 7 a block connected to the respective one of each of said first and second cam followers, and pivotal attachment means connecting each of said blocks to one of said first pair of frame walls. 4. The machine of claim 3, further characterized by said pivotal attachment means including an arm pivotally attached to said block,

and attaching means solidly attached to said frame wall and pivotally connected to said arm.

5. The machine of claim 1, further characterized by said third attaching means including wheel means pivotally connected to said second pivotal attachment means,

and a pair of extension arms pivotally connected to said wheel means at points on substantially opposite sides of the axis of rotation of said wheel from each other,

said extension arms having opposite ends pivotally connected to at least two other of said side walls.

7. The machine of claim 6, further characterized by said gear means including a bevel gear set having a first bevel gear mounted to rotate with said motor and a second bevel gear in operative relation with said first bevel gear,

a shaft mounting said second bevel gear,

and reducing gear means operatively connected to rotate with said shaft,

said output shaft operatively connected to be rotated by said reducing gear means.

8. A machine for setting up collapsed hollow-walled display cartons with a hollow wall around the periphery of the formed carton and other cartons of relatively stiff material requiring erection of their sides comprising a stationary frame base,

display cartons with a hollow wall around the periphery of the formed carton and other cartons of relatively stiff material requiring erection of their sides comprising an electrical power source,

an electric driving motor connected to said power source,

gear means attached to said motor,

solenoid controlled braking means connected in said gear means for applying a braking action therein,

control means electrically connected to said electric driving motor and solenoid of said solenoid controlled braking means,

an output shaft operatively connected to said gear means,

a crank wheel centrally mounted on said output shaft,

a connecting arm pivotally connected to said crank wheel,

a carriage pivotally connected at the opposite end of said connecting arm and mounted for reciprocating motion,

said carriage having a first portion adjacent and parallel to the first portion of the other of said tracks, a second portion connected to said first portion, and a third portion connected to said second portion with said third portion parallel to the third portion of the other of said tracks but further spaced from its corresponding third portion than the spacing between corresponding first portions of each of said cam follower tracks,

first, second, and third cam followers located in said pair of cam follower tracks with said first and second cam followers located in different ones of said pair of cam follower tracks along a single transverse line across said carriage and said third cam follower located in one of said cam follower tracks further from said second portion of said track than the other of said cam followers in the same said track when said third cam follower is in said first portion of said track,

a block attached to each of said cam followers and mounted for reciprocal motion substantially transverse to the reciprocating motion of said carriage,

first pivotal attachment means connected to each of said blocks which are attached to said first and second cam followers,

a stationary frame base mounted above said carriage having side walls hingedly attached to said base, said first pivotal attachment means connected to at least two of said side walls,

a second pivotal attachment means connected to said block attached to said third cam follower,

a first pair of frame walls and a second pair of frame walls, each hingedly attached to said base,

and operating means attached to said frame walls to move said walls from a substantially horizontal to vertical position and return them to the substantially horizontal position,

said operating means including a driven carriage mounted for reciprocating motion and having a pair of cam follower tracks with each of said tracks having a first portion adjacent and parallel to the first portion of the other of said tracks, a second portion connected to said first portion, and a third portion connected to said second portion with said third portion parallel to the third portion of the other of said tracks but further spaced from its corresponding third portion than the spacing between corresponding first portions of each of said cam follower tracks,

first, second, and third cam followers located in said pair of cam follower tracks with said first and second cam followers located in different ones of said pair of cam follower tracks along a single transverse line across said carriage and said third cam follower located in one of said cam follower tracks,

first, second, and third blocks having one of each of said blocks connected respectively to one of each of said first, second, and third cam followers,

pivotal attachment means connecting each of said first and second blocks to one of said first pair of frame walls,

idler wheel means pivotally connected to said third block,

and a pair of extension arms pivotally connected to said wheel idler means at points on substantially opposite sides of the axis of rotation of said wheel from each other,

said extension arms having their opposite ends pivotally connected to said second pair of frame walls.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 561,814 6/1896 Remus 93--84 x 1,551,189 8/1925 Cowgill 93-40 2,896,518 7/1959 Gibb 93-51 3,101,653 8/1963 Burden 93-49 WILLIAM W. DYER, 111., Primary Examiner.

WAYNE A. MORSE, 11s., Examiner. 

